Gualala

Tom Christensen | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 25, 2000)
• Original Release Date: January 18, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Naxos
• ASIN: B000042OEO
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #132,868 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Gualala

2. The Cats Of Ulthar

3. Cellular Coyotes

4. Thank You

5. Tangoed Web

6. Waiting Is

7. New Pedal Tune

8. Bare Trees

9. Or Not

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine balance, February 27, 2001

By 

David Robinson (London, England United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gualala (Audio CD)

Simply put, this is one of the best new jazz CD's to come out in recent times. It has a wonderful blend of classic jazz grooves with much more experimental qualities. It pushes the envelope as to what jazz can be. Tom's melodies are engaging, lyrical and poignant. Ben as usual provides a beautiful foundation, rhythm, and balance. The percussion work distinguishes this from many other jazz albums, giving it a unique sound. Indeed, there is no drum set at all. Cellular Coyotes is probably my favorite of all the tracks, which flows almost like a river with beautiful melody and counterpoint. Tom has touched upon something new, exciting and brilliant here. Thank you.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Post-Ornette Quartet, June 7, 2004

By 

Douglas T Martin (Alpharetta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gualala (Audio CD)

A lot of reed players double on other reed instruments; some even double on doubled-reed instruments. Bud Shank and Bob Cooper, primarily saxophonists, released the very successful "Flute and Oboe of Bud Shank and Bob Cooper" way back when. Now Tom Christensen, a proficient player of many reeds, presents a multi-reed cornucopia of modern jazz. With fellow reedsman Charles Pillow, there are seven different horns played on this recording. Fortunately the song listing on the back of the CD packaging includes the reeds that are being played on each song and who's playing which solo. The best thing about this set is that it always sounds like the same band for each song. Whether it's a two-tenor frontline or an English horn and oboe line-up the compositions sound as though they all come from the same pen - that of Tom Christensen, who wrote everything but the liner notes (written by Dave Liebman).

The unifying thread in these performances is the very atmospheric percussion by Satoshi Takeishi, usually heard with Erik Friedlander's Topaz quartet. Takeishi's drumming style is hard to describe but it's a little like that of Hamid Drake: a multiculturalistic choice of instuments, and the ability to lay down a deep polyrhythmic groove. This, combined with the double-reed instruments and liquid bass-work gives the set a Middle-Eastern feel.

"Cats of Ulthar" lays thick unison tenor lines over a deceptively simple two-note bass vamp, underscored by frenetic percussion. Then there's the Witty, slinky melody of "Tangoed Web". The closing song, Christensen's "Or Not", sounds like a classic Ornette Coleman blues romp - or not. The songs are all well-written with memorable melodies and the performances are spot on.

For more exploratory modern jazz in the same vein, check out "Paths", Tom Christensen's follow up recording that explores similar themes with the (mostly) same personnel.

Personnel: Tom Christensen: Tenor & soprano sax, oboe, English horn, clarinet; Charles Pillow: Tenor & sopranino sax, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet; Ben Allison or Doug Weiss: Bass; Satoshi Takeishi: Percussion; Total time: 65:34.

5.0 out of 5 stars Gualala, February 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Gualala (Audio CD)

Tom Christensen is one of the most talented musicians to play at Birdland. I wish I could meet him someday. Anyway, buy this CD! It rocks!